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Georgia Extends Lead at NCAAs

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Editor's Note: Exclusive coverage of the Men's NCAA Division I Golf Championships will be televised on The Golf Channel beginning June 2 at 3:00 p.m. ET.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Georgias Richard Scott shot a 1-under 69 and teammate Brendon Todd added a 70 in windy conditions Thursday to help the Bulldogs increase their lead to nine strokes after the second round of the NCAA Division I tournament.

Youve got to put aside thinking about leading or winning and just take it one shot at a time, Scott said. On this course and with these teams playing, if you lose focus, it can bite you. Were just worrying about each shot.

Georgia had a 4-over 284 total Thursday'counting the top four scores from the five-player squad'to finish 36 holes at 2-under 558 on the Caves Valley course. Chris Kirk added a 71 for the Bulldogs, and Kevin Kisner and David Denham shot 74s.

If you had told me after two rounds wed be under par, I would have taken that without a doubt, Georgia coach Chris Haack said. Im proud of the way the guys are playing. Theyre all focused on the task at hand. Theyre doing a good job of staying in the present and not getting emotional.

Tennessee, 8 over in the second round, was second at 7 over, followed by Georgia Tech at 9 over, Southern California at 12 over and UNLV, Duke, Georgia State and Washington at 14 over. Top-ranked Oklahoma State was 15th at 21 over.

Pepperdines Michael Putnam topped the individual leaderboard, shooting his second straight 67 for a 6-under 134 total. Augusta States Major Manning (70) was a stroke back, and Washingtons James Lepp (67) and Georgia Techs Roberto Castro (68) were three strokes behind Putnam at 3-under 137.

Putnam had an eagle, two birdies and a bogey'on his final hole.

I played solid all day, Putnam said. I only hit one bad shot and that was on the last hole. My mind-set for the day was not to make a bogey. I think when you have that mind-set, it helps make the day a little more relaxing.

Defending champion Ryan Moore of UNLV, also the 2004 U.S. Amateur and U.S. Public Links winner, followed his opening 72 with a 73 for a 5-over 145 total. New Mexicos Spencer Levin, who tied for 13th last year in the U.S. Open, also struggled, shooting a 75 for a 7-over 147 total.